Ukraine Says It No Longer Urges NATO Membership All

KYIV, KOMPAS.com – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he no longer urged NATO membership to Ukrainea sensitive issue which is one of the reasons Russia attack pro-Western Ukraine.

In another response aimed at “pacifying” Moscow, Zelensky said he was open to compromising on the status of the two pro-Russian regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, which the president recognized. Vladimir Putin as an independent territory before launching an invasion on 24 February.

“I have calmed down on this question long after we understood that NATO was not ready to accept Ukraine,” Zelensky said in an interview broadcast ABC News on Monday (7/3/2022) evening local time.

Also read: 4 conditions that Russia demands from Ukraine if it wants to stop the invasion immediately

“The (NATO) alliance is afraid of controversial matters, and confrontation with Russia,” he added AFP, Wednesday (9/3/2022).

Referring to NATO membership, Zelensky said through an interpreter that he didn’t want to be president of a country that begged for something on its knees.

Russia itself has said it does not want neighboring Ukraine to join NATO, the transatlantic alliance created at the start of the Cold War to protect Europe from the Soviet Union.

In recent years the alliance has expanded further and further east to take on former Soviet bloc countries, angering the Kremlin.

Russia sees NATO’s expansion as a threat, as does the military posture of this new Western ally on its doorstep.

Just before he shocked the world by ordering Russian invasion of UkrainePutin has previously recognized two pro-Russian separatist “republics” in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Lugansk, which have been at war with Kyiv since 2014.

Also read: Ukraine asks for direct dialogue between Putin and Zelensky

Putin now wants Ukraine to also recognize the two as sovereign and independent countries.

When ABC News Asked about Russia’s request, Zelensky said he was open to dialogue.

“I’m talking about security guarantees,” he said.

Zelensky said that Donetsk and Lugansk were basically not recognized as independent by any other country except Russia.

“These two territories have not been recognized by anyone but Russia, this quasi-republic. But we can discuss and find a compromise on how this region will continue to live,” Zelensky said.

Also read: 4 Countries Joining Russia to Recognize Independence of Donetsk and Luhansk

“What’s important to me is how people in the region will live by wanting to be part of Ukraine, while (people) in Ukraine will say they want people in the region to come in,” Zelensky said.

“So the question is harder than just admitting it,” said the president.

“This is another ultimatum and we are not ready for an ultimatum. What needs to be done is for President Putin to start talking, start a dialogue instead of living in an information bubble without oxygen,” he said.

Previously, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Monday (7/3/2022) requested direct talks between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kyiv argued that Putin was the man behind the order for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We have long wanted a live conversation between the President of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin because we all understand that he is the one who makes the final decision, especially now,” he said in a live television broadcast quoted Reuters.

“Our president is not afraid of anything, including a face-to-face meeting with Putin,” Kuleba added. “If Putin is also not afraid, let him come to the meeting, let them sit and talk,” continued Dmytro.

Also read: Biden Calls War in Ukraine Will Never Be Won by Putin

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